Tarpaulin for athletic fields



April 13 1926.

J. H. WOODWARD THLETIC FIELDS TARPAULIN FOR A Filed Jan.

I l 3mm Patented Apr. 13, 1926.

UNITED, S T S {PATENT OFFICE...

JOHN H. WOODWARD, or ooLUMBUs,oHIo, 'Assm1\ron TO THE .1. H. Aunt. A.-.SELLS COMPANY, or COLUMBUS, 01110, CORPORATION or onto,

TARPAo'LIn 7 FOR ATHLETIC FIELDS.

Application filed January 7, 1926. Serial m, 79,399.;

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be .it known that I, JOHN H. WOODWARD,

a citizen of the United States residing at Columbus, in thecounty of Franklinfand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tarpaulins for.

Athletic Fields, of which the following s a specification. V

This invention relates to an improved water proof covering particularlyadapted for athletic fields, and has for its primary object the provision of an improved, read ly laid and easilyremove-d structure forprotecting such fields from the "effects of rain,

snow and moisture to the end of maintaining the same in a dry and serviceableconditlon, suitable for the activities taking place thereon. v Another object of the invention rests in the provision of a water proof covering or tarpaulin for the purpose aforesaid, wherein the covering or'tarpaulin is composed of a plurality of separable sections, each section possessing a size enabling the same to be readily handled, and where-1n the sectlonsare unitedby means of separable fasteners carried by the sections thems'elves ,the arrangement and construction of the fasteners being such as toelevate the marginal portions of said sections to produce water shedding ridges which prevent moisture from seeping through the covering along the edges of said sections.

This invention also has for an object to 3 provide a construction which constitutes an improvement upon the disclosureset forth" in my co-pending application Serial Number 71,344, filed November 25, 1925, 1n that 1n the present invention the fastening means for 40 uniting the sections are rigidly fastened to said sections so as to be connected therewith at all times. f

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved tarpaulin comprising the present invention, .Figure 2 is a vertical transverse'sect1ona1 ing the fa stenin view on anenlarged scale taken on the plane indicated by the line 2- 2 ofFigure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2, i i

. Figure 1 is a detail perspective view showg device employed in connecting the tar'paulin sections.

In accordance with the presentinvention my improved t-arpaulin, designated by the numeral 1,.1s placed on the playing surface of an athleticfield or the like so as to 001m pletely cover said field and protect the same from moisture. 'In order to render the tarpaulin practical and capable of being easily handled, particularly whenthe latter is used 111 connection with the covering of relatively large areas, such'as foot ball fields,'the said tarpaulin is formed to comprise a plurality of I individual and separable sections which are designated by the numeral 2. Each of these sections is formed from awater proof material, such for example ascanvas or a rubberized fabric. Canvas, however, is preferred in that itpossesses the. capability of being readily rolled and stored without cracking or breaking, and witlfordinary care is capable. of imparting satisfactory service for a 'number of years] Thesesec ions are laid preferably transversely across the playing field, and each section is of. a

length, in thisinstance, equal to theJwidth ofthe field, although in the opposite dimension' the sections are substantially twelve feet, but these-dimensions of course may be varied as practice may dictate. The proportions have been found to be desirable in that they permit of the convenient manual han- 'dling of the itarpaulin, in order that one or two men may place the sections in proper order, upon or remove the same from the ground surface cover. 'As shown in Figure 1, the sections are placed in successive order over the entire-playing field, their marginal seeping. through the marginal edges of the sections, the latter in this instance are so formedthat one edge 3 of each section is provided on its under surfacewith a fasten- 9 ing plate 4. Preferably providedwith a m r v plurality of non-corrosive metallic fastening plates a, each of which being formed withan integral hook shaped locking tongue 5. The complemental marginal edge 6 of each section, that is, the edge mating with the edge 3 is provided with an overlapping flap 7, formed by stitching the edge 6 as at 8. The edge 6 is provided with a plurality of metallic plates 9, arranged in registering relation with the plates t and secured, by riveting or otherwise, to the edge 6, as indicated by the numeral 10. Likewise, the plates lare fastened by rivets or the like 11 to the edge 8. Each of the plates 9 is formed with an extension 11, apertured as at 12 for the reception of the tongues 5.

It will be seen that in order to connect the meeting edges of a pair of adjacent sections, the said edges will be elevated so as to present the plates 4 and 9 in such relation that the tongues may be connected with the apertured extensions 11. By bringing the plates into this relation the edges 3 and 6 are elevated and are closed against moisture seepage by the employment of the flap '7, which overlaps the connection and prevents rain or the like from passing through the covering. The separable fasteners, being formed from a rigid material, thus position the edges 3 and 6 so that ridges are formed to facilitate the shedding of water. Since most fields are provided with a crowned upper surface, it will be seen that the water between the ridges will. drain naturally toward the sides of the covering.

By the provision of this construction it will be seen that the tarpaulin sections may be readily connected and furthermore are entirely self contained. In my prior application use is made of a base frame separate from said sections. By the present invention this frame has been eliminated and as aresult greater facility is obtainable in the placing of the sections and no particular laying order is required.

What is claimed is: 1. A tarpaulin covering for athletic fields consisting of a plurality of sections, separa ble fastening devices carried by the marginal edges of said sections for uniting said sections, and a flap provided upon one of said sections and arranged to cover said fastening devices. 7

2. A tarpaulin covering for athletic fields, comprising a plurality of sections, separa ble fasteners carried by the marginal edges of said sections, and operative when in interlocked relation to cause the marginal edges of said sections to assume a substantially upright position.

3. A tarpaulin covering for athletic fields comprising a plurality of separable sections, rigid fastening devices carried by the mat ing marginal edges of said sections, said sections being constructed when in interlocked relation to maintain said marginal. edges in a substantially upright position, and a flap carried by one of said marginal edges to cover said fastening devices.

i. A tarpa-ulin covering for athletic fields comprising a plurality of separable sections, metallic plates carried by the marginal edge of one of said sections and formed with hook shaped locking extremities, a plurality of complemental plates carried by the marginal edge of the adjacent mating section, said latter plates being provided with openings for the reception of said hook shaped locking extremities, said plates serving when interlocked to maintain the adjoining edges of said sections in a substantially upright position, and a sealing flap carried by one of said sections.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

Jonn n. woonwann; 

